Al Maktoum International Airport is being designed for “queue-free” AI security with biometric facial scanning, Arabian Business reports.
The Mark Forker piece, dated 5 September 2026, frames the plan as part of Dubai’s roughly $35 billion megaproject at Dubai World Central, with the airport due to be the world’s largest when completed in 2032.
Queue-free security at Al Maktoum
Arabian Business says Al Maktoum will use AI and biometric facial scanning so passengers are not funnelled through conventional security queues. That sits alongside Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths’ earlier “no red lights” brief to Khaleej Times: travellers should not have to stop for check-in, immigration, security or customs once they reach the terminal.
Griffiths has also told Gulf News that the aim is a single biometric capture, with cameras in the fabric of the building recognising passengers as they walk. Green-flagged travellers continue; yellow or red flags get a discreet extra check. He wants kerb-to-gate movement without the belt-off, shoes-off ritual.
Arabian Business adds off-site baggage drop and a claimed “15-minute rule” for returning bags after landing. Those claims are attributed to engineers and officials in the report; no public timetable for when each perk goes live is in that piece.
Capacity, flights and contracts
The UAE Government Media Office says the new passenger terminal was approved at AED 128 billion, with ultimate capacity of 260 million passengers a year and 12 million tonnes of cargo. Arabian Business restates that passenger and cargo ceiling and quotes Griffiths, from a media roundtable last month, saying the airport should process 360 flights an hour.
The same Arabian Business report says $11.7 billion in contracts were out to tender and $2.8 billion had already been awarded as construction ramps up. Layout figures in that piece match the Media Office brief: five runways, two passenger terminals, seven concourses and about 430 aircraft stands on a site of more than 70 square kilometres.
Dubai has also commissioned a large Automated People Mover. Arabian Business describes a 50 km driverless underground rail network with nine stations, led by a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries consortium. Khaleej Times has separately reported a 14-station underground multi-track APM in the 2032 journey vision. Treat the station count as source-specific until Dubai Airports publishes a single figure.
What happens next for DXB travellers
First-phase operations are targeted for 2032, with DXB traffic due to move across in phases in the following years. Technologies are already being trialled at Dubai International before they scale to Al Maktoum, Dubai Airports has said in recent coverage.
tbreak has covered related connectivity, including the planned Dubai Airport Express Line between DXB and DWC.
There is a wider regional read in the MEASA airport upgrade wave that lists Al Maktoum’s 260 million passenger target.
Eligible travellers will still use DXB for years. The queue-free security pitch is the design brief for Al Maktoum, not a claim that every Dubai checkpoint is clear today.
What does “queue-free” security mean at Al Maktoum?
Arabian Business reports that Al Maktoum International Airport is promising queue-free AI security with biometric facial scanning. Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths has separately described a “no red lights” airport where passengers should not queue for check-in, immigration, security or customs after arrival.
How many passengers will Al Maktoum handle?
The UAE Government Media Office and Arabian Business both cite an ultimate capacity of 260 million passengers a year, plus 12 million tonnes of cargo, when the project is fully built.
When does Al Maktoum’s first phase open?
Arabian Business and recent Dubai Airports coverage target completion of the megaproject phase that makes it the world’s largest airport for 2032. DXB operations are due to transfer in phases after that.
Is this live at Dubai International today?
No. The queue-free security design is for Al Maktoum. Dubai Airports has said related technologies are being tested at DXB before they scale to the new airport. DXB travellers should not treat the AB headline as a claim that every security queue has already gone.
What else did Arabian Business flag besides security?
Off-site baggage drop with a claimed 15-minute rule for returning bags after landing, a 50 km Automated People Mover with nine stations, and airfield work for next-generation electric and hydrogen aircraft. Contract figures in the piece: $11.7 billion out to tender and $2.8 billion already awarded.
